So Your Tap Water Has Flecks In It

Have you ever walked over to your sink and run the faucet, intending to grab a glass of water? Of course you have! Who hasn’t drank tap water, once or twice in their lives. It’s a foolproof way of staying hydrated. Now, have you ever turned on the faucet and noticed small floating things inside? This is a much less appealing part of tap water, but not always cause for alarm! There are more than a couple reasons that you could have sediment or floating specks in your water glass. So, in order to lay some worries to rest, we compiled a list of a couple items you may find at the bottom of your glass!

• Black Particles. Black floaters could be degraded piping, faucets, or water filters. If you’re seeing floaters that look similar to coffee grounds, it is probably granulated carbon from your water filter! However, if they are oily, it could be a part of a rubber hose that has degraded over time. Both of these could be indicators of simple repairs, but if you are unsure at all we can evaluate the issue for you! A third thing that black particles could be is sulfur bacteria. As scary as that sounds, it is not dangerous to humans.
• Brown or Orange Particles. If you have found brown sediment at the bottom of your glass, it’s likely sand appearing due to a recent well digging nearby. However, if these brown or orange pieces are floating, jagged or strangely shaped, they are simply iron particles. They are not a health hazard, but definitely something to be aware of, as they can clog your washer machine, shower heads and much more. 
  • Side note; if these brown or orange particles are uniform fish egg/bead shapes, it could be a sign your water softener is broken! This is cause to call in a professional immediately, to repair the damage before it gets any worse!
• White or Tan Particles. If you see white or tan particles in your water, fear not! This is the most common type of floater to see, as they are due to deposits of minerals. Water carries anything it comes into contact with, provided it’s light enough. Calcium and magnesium carbonate are found in water worldwide, and often will leave deposits inside your piping as it builds up. This deposit can occasionally form a scale, and over time will chip away. The chips are part of what you are seeing come out of your faucet. If it’s in heavier chucks, consider installing a water softener to keep the minerals from building up and breaking off.  

 These are only the most common times of particles you could find in your water, but that doesn’t mean you won’t see other colors, sizes or shapes of all these items. If you are ever concerned about the quality of water in your home, or you’ve never found particles and just want to know what we can do to ensure you never do, give us a call! We are always up for ensuring our customers have safe, clear water at home! 

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